In 2026, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo turns 100! As part of celebrating our centennial, we want to share the unique stories that make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo your Zoo. We’re inviting guests, members and friends of the Zoo to share their Zoo history with us – through photos, written memories, or both. We can’t wait to hear how you’ve made the Zoo a part of your story!
Ages: Middle and High School, 6th - 12th grades. Winter off-season runs November 14 – February 14, 2027, for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Core programs. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Teen Programs provide meaningful life experiences that inspire teens to take conservation action both on and off Zoo grounds through education, leadership, stewardship and environmental exploration. Off-Season Teen Programs offer weekends, evenings, and after school teen opportunities. Admission to the program is through an application process. Online applications for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Core programs will be open during this time. An application fee applies.
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Registrants will participate in a reptile-themed sensory activity, meet scaly friends throughout the Zoo and help make salads for tortoises! Registration is required.
Join us for Military Appreciation Week at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! It’s a week of even bigger thanks to our military personnel for their continued service to our great country than our year-round military discount. This week features a military discount of 50% off the day's normal admission base price, which is offered to all active-duty, veteran and retired military personnel and their dependents living in the same household. To enjoy a full week of stars and stripes, purchase your advance timed tickets, and march on up to the Zoo!
All ages. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is inviting media, members, the public, staff, and board members to celebrate the grand opening of the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffe (Giraffe Center) at 9:30 a.m. on Tues., Sept. 15, 2026. During the event, attendees will hear remarks from CMZoo Board Chair, Mike Edmonds, and CMZoo President and CEO, Dave Ruhl. Then, the Giraffe Center will open to the public . The Giraffe Center is a 12,000 square-foot giraffe barn and renovated and expanded giraffe yard. For the first time in CMZoo history, guests will be able to feed and observe giraffe from every angle – from above, face-to-face and feet-to-hooves. Advance timed tickets are required.
Ages: Elementary 1st-5th Grade & 6th-8th grade. Get ready to meet nature's slimiest superstars! Why are some animals so slippery? What is slime made of, and why do these creatures need it to survive? Dive into swamps, jungles, and watery worlds as we uncover the surprising secrets of some of the most fascinating—and wonderfully gooey—animals on Earth. Registration is required.
On Fri., Sept. 4 & Weds., Sept. 23, get an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Ages 21+. Join us for a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo! Tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes include unlimited small plates and two drink tickets. Cash bars also available. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Advanced tickets are required and are on sale online now!
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Registrants will participate in a Fall – themed sensory activity and meet some of our Orange colored friends that call the Zoo home! Registration is required.
Ages: Elementary 1st-5th Grade & 6th-8th grade. How can lots of tiny living things join together to act like one big living creature? From giant aspen groves that are all connected underground, to the strange and stingy Portuguese man o’war, to super-organized ant colonies, nature is full of amazing teamwork! These organisms don’t just work together… They live together in incredible ways. Come explore how these living teams survive, grow, and thrive as one! Registration is required.
Seven nights! Evenings of October 16, 17, 23-25, 30 & 31, 2026, 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. All ages. Come see the original creatures of the night. It’ll be all treats and no tricks for your little pirates and princesses at this year’s Boo at the Zoo, the region’s most unique Halloween event. Boo at the Zoo is a fun way for families with young children to trick-or-treat and enjoy Halloween festivities in a safe environment, and all of our candy is made with sustainable palm oil to help protect wild orangutans! Don't forget to darn your best costume for our Costume Contest! Advance timed admission tickets are required, and are on sale now.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Dare to discover the truth behind some of our world’s most misunderstood creatures! Through this interactive workshop we’ll uncover the myths behind these animals and explore why they’re more helpful than haunting. Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 years. For this special holiday edition includes Meet & Greets with a few of our “creepy crawly” but still adorable animals from My Big Back Yard, and painting your own mini pumpkin to take home with you! Costumes are both welcome and encouraged for participants of all ages! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Join us as we uncover the secrets left behind by the zoo's wildest residents on the mountain side! We will learn the art of animal detective work as we analyze real animal biofacts and investigate the signs they leave behind to piece together how our local wildlife survive. Registration is required.
Ages 1st - 6th grade: Theme: Strange but True! Get ready to discover some of the wildest, weirdest, and most unbelievable animal facts around! From bizarre body parts and surprising behaviors to incredible survival skills, animals have some seriously strange secrets. Join us as we uncover the truth behind nature’s most unusual creatures and discover that sometimes, the strangest things are absolutely true! Sign up for any single days, or all three! Campers should register for the grade they are currently enrolled in. Registration is required and can fill quickly.
Adults 21+. Celebrate holiday lights and cheer during this adults-only event, Electric Moonlight. This event combines our festive holiday lights with indoor sampling areas featuring beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks while tasting delicious eats from area restaurants (all while supplies last) – just like at our popular summer event, Moonlight on the Mountain! Advance tickets are required and are subject to selling out; day-of tickets available only if not sold out. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.)